OK - What should I do??
Discussion
Guys,
Though I don't post here often, i'm often reading others. So, I have a question and would appreciate your thoughts. I've been without a licence for 2yrs in the UK for medical reasons, which should come back next month. I did have a 98 V8-GT which I sold when the medical issues occurred. I currently have a deposit on a 997C2S, but yet to confirm my order....but i just can't get the Esprit out of my head. I keep reading the posts, looking on Autotrader, etc. So, question is this - should I go for a 997, wait for the new Esprit...or just buy the best I can find on Autotrader (couple of 2002's with 12-15k)?
Thanks for your input, and anyone who has more details on the new Esprit would be very welcome (all i know is v8, possibly AMG, ot 'yota, aluminium body, was to be built in Malaysia, but that's changed recently and i've seen the Autocar impressions)
Thanks, Ash
Though I don't post here often, i'm often reading others. So, I have a question and would appreciate your thoughts. I've been without a licence for 2yrs in the UK for medical reasons, which should come back next month. I did have a 98 V8-GT which I sold when the medical issues occurred. I currently have a deposit on a 997C2S, but yet to confirm my order....but i just can't get the Esprit out of my head. I keep reading the posts, looking on Autotrader, etc. So, question is this - should I go for a 997, wait for the new Esprit...or just buy the best I can find on Autotrader (couple of 2002's with 12-15k)?
Thanks for your input, and anyone who has more details on the new Esprit would be very welcome (all i know is v8, possibly AMG, ot 'yota, aluminium body, was to be built in Malaysia, but that's changed recently and i've seen the Autocar impressions)
Thanks, Ash
Hi Ash... and I shall prob. be of little help....but...
I have always felt that (if you have the money to spend of course) spending money is not the issue. Spending it on what you really want is everything. For me there is no more bothersome feeling than having something - regardless of how 'good' - if you always find yourself thinking about the 'other' thing.
For example. I have been a fan of the early Stevens Esprit for a long time (hell I like them all, but my income does not permit that). So, a couple years ago I found myself in the position to buy one of my 'dream cars'. There are virtually no Esprit in my area, so I was not really shopping for one. I was aware of the low production numbers but not aware of availability. Anyway, I was searching around for a Ferrari 308 because I have friends with them and they seemed more available as they were manufactured in higher number.
I looked at several and even toyed with buying a friends as I was somewhat familier with the car (he decided not to sell it at all)... but I found that I was sitting in the Ferrari thinking about an Esprit. As luck would have it I was reasearching Esprit all along and located the one I now drive! I do not sit in it wondering if I would have liked the Ferrari more. I like having a 'rare' car. Although, I admit I think about adding to the stable!
So, buy what you want and enjoy it! Cannot say much about the new Esprit... as far as the drawings I have seen... I like the old style better. One image looked like and 80's camero on steroids, the other more like a Lambo than ever! I'll have to see the final production to really have an opinion - but regardless, I do not like to be the first to buy a newly developed car. Let em' get the inevitable gremlins out!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
>> Edited by Autocross7 on Wednesday 23 November 17:18
I have always felt that (if you have the money to spend of course) spending money is not the issue. Spending it on what you really want is everything. For me there is no more bothersome feeling than having something - regardless of how 'good' - if you always find yourself thinking about the 'other' thing.
For example. I have been a fan of the early Stevens Esprit for a long time (hell I like them all, but my income does not permit that). So, a couple years ago I found myself in the position to buy one of my 'dream cars'. There are virtually no Esprit in my area, so I was not really shopping for one. I was aware of the low production numbers but not aware of availability. Anyway, I was searching around for a Ferrari 308 because I have friends with them and they seemed more available as they were manufactured in higher number.
I looked at several and even toyed with buying a friends as I was somewhat familier with the car (he decided not to sell it at all)... but I found that I was sitting in the Ferrari thinking about an Esprit. As luck would have it I was reasearching Esprit all along and located the one I now drive! I do not sit in it wondering if I would have liked the Ferrari more. I like having a 'rare' car. Although, I admit I think about adding to the stable!
So, buy what you want and enjoy it! Cannot say much about the new Esprit... as far as the drawings I have seen... I like the old style better. One image looked like and 80's camero on steroids, the other more like a Lambo than ever! I'll have to see the final production to really have an opinion - but regardless, I do not like to be the first to buy a newly developed car. Let em' get the inevitable gremlins out!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
>> Edited by Autocross7 on Wednesday 23 November 17:18
My wife (believe it or not) has an interesting way to make this decision.
Imagine yourself in one of the cars on your list at a stoplight. Then imagine that the OTHER car pulls up next to you. Which one would you rather be in if this happens? Would you be disappointed that you didn't buy the one that pulled up?
She has her moments. That's how I ended up in the Esprit and not a Dodge Viper, Aston DB7 or older F355.
ErnestM
Imagine yourself in one of the cars on your list at a stoplight. Then imagine that the OTHER car pulls up next to you. Which one would you rather be in if this happens? Would you be disappointed that you didn't buy the one that pulled up?
She has her moments. That's how I ended up in the Esprit and not a Dodge Viper, Aston DB7 or older F355.
ErnestM
"Imagine yourself in one of the cars on your list at a stoplight. Then imagine that the OTHER car pulls up next to you. Which one would you rather be in if this happens? Would you be disappointed that you didn't buy the one that pulled up? "
In my case, I was overwhelm by my wife & my two boys. Initially I like to buy a whale tail Porsche 965. My family blatantly opposed the Porsche. Like what your wife said, My two sons asked this too: "If you see a Porsche and Lotus Esprit V8 in the traffic light which one will you take and which car people will stare?
You see one Porsche you see them all (my younger sons words).
So, I took the Esprit V8 and I never regret it.
In my case, I was overwhelm by my wife & my two boys. Initially I like to buy a whale tail Porsche 965. My family blatantly opposed the Porsche. Like what your wife said, My two sons asked this too: "If you see a Porsche and Lotus Esprit V8 in the traffic light which one will you take and which car people will stare?
You see one Porsche you see them all (my younger sons words).
So, I took the Esprit V8 and I never regret it.
I pulled up in the train station car park last Saturday and nipped in to buy a ticket, leaving the wife sat in the Esprit. Came back 10 minutes later to find her out of the car chatting to a complete stranger whilst his son wandered around the car shaking his head. Turned out it was 10th birthday and Dad was taking him to Edinburgh for the day. The lad was beside himself, never having seen an Esprit in the flesh but having pictures on his wall. Apparently they'd walked past, turned round and just had to come back.
Dad asked if he could take a picture - sure I said, opened the drivers door and invited the youngster to sit in it. He was almost in tears. Talk about making his day, he was overwhelmed and Dad was pretty pleased as well.
So thats the essence of the Esprit. 30 years old and it still has that effect. As Dad said, a Ferrari or 911 just doesn't do it - to common, even in Scotland.
As I've said elsewhere, buy with your heart, but put your brain in gear first. Buy the Esprit.
Dad asked if he could take a picture - sure I said, opened the drivers door and invited the youngster to sit in it. He was almost in tears. Talk about making his day, he was overwhelmed and Dad was pretty pleased as well.
So thats the essence of the Esprit. 30 years old and it still has that effect. As Dad said, a Ferrari or 911 just doesn't do it - to common, even in Scotland.
As I've said elsewhere, buy with your heart, but put your brain in gear first. Buy the Esprit.
First... I do not want to come over as down on Porsche. I have driven them, raced them, and admired them. But the above is quite correct. They are a dime a dozen. I was in Miami this time last year and I actually took a photo of some friends and realized later that there were 14 visible in the photo... in front of Books a Million. Only saw one Lotus on the 2 week trip - an Elise.
I still get funny looks at cruise ins from people then looks of amazment when they realize the car is nearly 20 years old!
Lotus is def way way more 'bang for the buck' over any Porsche... and drives are even more fun when the wow factor comes into play!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
I still get funny looks at cruise ins from people then looks of amazment when they realize the car is nearly 20 years old!
Lotus is def way way more 'bang for the buck' over any Porsche... and drives are even more fun when the wow factor comes into play!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
Guys,
Thanks for the help above. It all pretty much echo's my thoughts - its a head vs. heart decision. When I had the V8-GT i got stopped / questioned so many times. Living by Tower Bridge with so many tourists around I can't count how many times i looked out of the window to see people admiring / taking photo's etc. Had a similar story as above when visiting a relative, little boy (7 or 8) come out of his house with his Dad from further along the road almost in hysterics, and when I let him sit in it then took him for a spin, I think it made his year!
It's all ErnestM's fault for posting that damn video, downloaded all 368M and just keep watching it...hence the question.
So, it's head vs. heart - 997 will be cheaper to run (my V8 went through the usual cat's, exhaust, turbo vacuum units, tranny rebuild, etc.) BUT i'll always long for another Esprit. So now the question is do I go and get the best I can find, or wait for the new one in 07??
Thanks again. Ash
Thanks for the help above. It all pretty much echo's my thoughts - its a head vs. heart decision. When I had the V8-GT i got stopped / questioned so many times. Living by Tower Bridge with so many tourists around I can't count how many times i looked out of the window to see people admiring / taking photo's etc. Had a similar story as above when visiting a relative, little boy (7 or 8) come out of his house with his Dad from further along the road almost in hysterics, and when I let him sit in it then took him for a spin, I think it made his year!
It's all ErnestM's fault for posting that damn video, downloaded all 368M and just keep watching it...hence the question.
So, it's head vs. heart - 997 will be cheaper to run (my V8 went through the usual cat's, exhaust, turbo vacuum units, tranny rebuild, etc.) BUT i'll always long for another Esprit. So now the question is do I go and get the best I can find, or wait for the new one in 07??
Thanks again. Ash
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